Run-off called likely in Phoenix mayor's race

A former City Council member and a political consultant are leading five rivals in the race to become Phoenix's next mayor, apparently setting up a run-off election in a contest that has seen candidates pledge to prioritize job creation as the city struggles to recover from the housing market collapse.

Initial results Tuesday show councilman Greg Stanton, a Democrat, has nearly 38 percent of the vote with roughly 100,000 votes counted. Wes Gullet, a Republican who was a senior aide to former Gov. Fife Symington, has nearly 21 percent.

A runoff election will be held Nov. 8 if no candidate receives a majority of the votes. The winner takes office Jan. 3.

City Clerk Cris Meyer says tens of thousands of ballots remained to be counted over the next several days, but initial results point toward a run-off.